Opinions of Business Representatives on International Tourism Fairs: A Qualitative Research Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal the opinions of tourism business associates about international tourism fairs. In this study, the unstructured interview technique was used as the data collection method. The research group included participants from businesses operating in the accommodation, airlines, catering, travel, and health tourism sectors who attended the international tourism exhibitions in Kiev/Ukraine, Minsk/Belarus, Tbilisi/Georgia and Seoul/South Korea in 2017. An interview on the subject was conducted with 32 participants and their opinions were recorded in a written form. According to the interview results, the exhibitors reported that taking part in international tourism fairs is generally useful for tourism businesses in terms of improving image, increasing knowledge of the international markets, better recognition of competitors, and being informed about the latest technology and managerial practices.